OPINIONS, ISSUES & POLITICS

FOSTER & KINSHIP CLASSES:

SENIORS!! Save money and get help with homeowners and renters tax credit programs! If you are  62 years old or older  (or under 62 and  blind or disabled), and your household income for 2007 was under $44,096, you may be eligible for a tax refund from the state of CA on your RENT or PROPERTY TAX payments for 2007. Filing period for form 9000H/9000R is July 1, to October 15, 2008. Forms available at Jackson Library.

Spaghetti Feed and Silent Auction, Friday, September 19 from 6-9:30PM at the Jackson Elks Lodge, 12500 Kennedy Flat Road. Tickets are $20.00, RSVP 209 257 1397 or go to ActBlue, from the Amador Democrats web site at: www.amadordemocrats.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Out of the Darkness Community Walk, Saturday, October 18th, William Land Park in Sacramento. Pre-register at: http://www.outofthedarkness.org Check in- 8:45am / Walk begins at 10AM. Contact person: Liseanne Wick (916)368-3110 or lwick@theeffort.org Walk with us as we join thousands of people nationwide to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and assist survivors of suicide loss.  The EFFORT (regional Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services) is partnering with AFSP to host this Community Walk.  Suicide is preventable. You can make a difference. Join us!

5th Annual "No More Casinos" Dinner Dance Saturday October 25 at 6:30PM at the Amador County Fairgrounds - Pokerville Hall. Catered by Mother Lode Market and Music by Giai led by the well known and loved Herb Boxhorn. This event is always a good time and this year we are looking forward to some really special music. Tickets are $35.00 . Info at 245-6211 or 245-4588.


ONGOING:

Amador Citizens for Peace: Monthly Candlelight Vigil. Every 3rd Friday of every month at 5PM, Corner of Highways 88/49, near Jackson City Hall. Candlelight vigil for the Iraq Moratorium. For more information: Cheryl Scott: 296-4684 cherylscott@volcano.net & Nora Coryell 223-3322 americassmokesignals@netzero.net

Amador Citizens for Smart Growth (ACSG) Meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays from 3-5PM
235 New York Ranch Rd, Suite D. Quail Hollow Center, Jackson. For more info, e-mail amadorsmartgrowth@gmail.com, or go to www.amadorsmartgrowth.org

Amador County Democratic Central Committee Meeting, Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 40 N. Highway 49/88, Jackson (Crosswalk from Mel's Diner/Busi Municipal Parking Lot), www.amadordemocrats.org

The Amador Democratic Club, Meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7PM.
Amador Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Road, Jackson. For info call President Liz Mc Culloch at 296-5131.
www.amadordemocrats.org

Amador County Republican Central Committee, Meets the third Thursday of every month at 7PM, Amador Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Road, Jackson www.amadorgop.org

Amador Progressive Women's Committee (APWC), Meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 11:30AM Jackson Elks Club. For more information click here.

Amador County Citizens Against Global Warming Citizens for Stabilzing & Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions is an organization of volunteers is forming with the intent to help stabilize and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Amador County. The organization will work with all stake holders including, but not limited to, concerned citizens, business organizations, agricultural organizations, faith based organizations and cities of Sutter Creek, Jackson, Ione, Plymouth, Amador City and the County Board of Supervisors.
The national program that will be implemented is called Cool Cities and Cool Counties, a program that is successful in over 500 cities and several counties throughout the U.S. For more information, contact Jerry Scott, Director, at 296-1775 or jersusan@volcano.net

Amador Dry Creek Watershed Council, Meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7PM
Amador County Administration Building, Conference Room 3, 810 Court Street, Jackson. The Amador Dry Creek Watershed Council will assess, protect and enhance the Dry Creek basin through collaboration, advocacy and education.

BLM Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program. The Folsom office of the Bureau of Land Management announces a new variance program.  If a homeowner lives adjacent to a BLM property,  they may be eligible for this variance.  Basically, if the homeowner has done everything they can to meet PRC 4291, the 100 foot defensible space law, but are up against the mutual property line with BLM, they can apply for this variance and get permission to work on BLM's property to enhance their defensible space.  All work on BLM property must be within 100' of the mutual property line.  The homeowner would be responsible for any costs.  There would be no restrictions on using federal or state funds if, for instance, a homeowner qualified for the Amador Fire Safe Council's low income senior/disabled grant and already had their 4291 compliance around the house.  AFSC would then be able to work on the BLM lands within 100' of that mutual property line.  The AFSC office has the application form to request the variance, or the homeowner can call BLM directly at 916-985-4474. AFSC  will not help the homeowner get the variance, but we can  supply the homeowner with the application and contact information.
Cathy Koos Breazeal, Executive Director, Amador Fire Safe Council, 209-296-6220

Democratic Club of Amador County, Meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7PM.
Jackson Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Rd. Jackson CA 95642. If you are a registered Democrat interested in meeting other Democrats and getting involved in political activities in Amador, this is the club for you. We are the only chartered Democratic Club in the county and open to any and all Democrats. We discuss local, state and national issues; schedule speakers on topics of interest to our members; and participate in Democratic activities in Amador County, both social and political. We have a scholarship program for Amador County High Schoolers (public, private and home schooled, including those working toward their GED). Dues are $24.00 per year. For further information contact Liz McCulloch, 209) 296-5131, e-mail: mccullok@volcano.net, or go to: www.amadordemocrats.org

Foothill Conservancy: Home-grown conservation since 1989
Foothill Conservancy works to protect, restore, and sustain the natural and human environment in Amador and Calaveras counties for the benefit of current and future generations. We hold informative public meetings, testify before local governments, participate in regional coalitions, publish an informative newsletter on local issues, and post news and events information on our website, www.foothillconservancy.org. Visit our site for information and to sign on to protect the Mokelumne River for future generations. Contact: Executive Director Chris Wright, fhc@foothillconservancy.org
209-295-4900, www.foothillconservancy.org

Pine Grove Civic Improvement Club & Council, Meets the 1st Wednesday. Council at 5:30PM / Club at 6:30PM. Town Hall (across from park in Pine Grove). Meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.  We generally have at least one supervisor present.  For more information call 296-7626.

“Take-It-Back Amador!” Battery & Fluorescent Tube/Bulb Disposal. Locations: Meeks, Ione; ACE Hardware, Pine Grove. County residents now have more options for disposing used batteries and fluorescent tubes & bulbs “Take-It-Back Amador!” is a partnership that promotes the proper recycling and disposal of used household batteries and fluorescent tubes & bulbs.  In response to New Universal Waste Regulations, Meeks Lumber & Hardware, and ACE Hardware and Lumber stores located in Pine Grove and Ione are accepting these items, free of charge, from county residents. Universal Waste, meaning widely used, can pose a threat to public health and the environment if not properly handled.  California regulations prohibit universal wastes from landfill disposal.  Amador County residents can continue to bring these items to the County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Facility every other Saturday at the Buena Vista Landfill Transfer Station. This program is for residential use only.  Business and commercial materials will not be accepted.  For more information on HHW collection dates or materials, Amador County Water Management Department at (209) 223-6429 or visit: www.co.amador.ca.us/depts/waste/

Upcountry Communities Council: Concerned Citizens in an Unincorporated Area, Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6-8PM, Veterans Memorial Hall at Pioneer Park. Buckhorn Ridge Rd., Pioneer. The Upcountry Communities Council is a working group acknowledged by the County, which provides assistance to the County and residents in governmental affairs affecting the area known as Upcountry in Amador County.  The areas within the Council are the Communities of Amador Pines, Buckhorn, Pine Grove, Mace Meadows, Pioneer, RabbPark, Silver Lakes Pines/Sierra Highlands and Volcano. For more information, call Bob Currall at 295-7630 or Debbie Dunn at 296-5435 or ddunn@volcano.net

Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Council. The mission of the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Council is "to establish a collaborative decision-making body and a forum composed of all parties with a vested interest, including local residents, agricultural, timber and other commercial entities, recreational users, and public agencies. We shall work to restore and maintain the Upper Mokelumne River watershed in a manner that ensures sustainable environmental, economic, educational, cultural, recreational, and water quality benefits for present and future generations." Multi-Stakeholder Collaborative Group in the following counties are involved: Amador, Calaveras, & Alpine; Sub-Region: East & South Central Contact: Terry Strange, 235 New York Ranch Road, Suite D, Jackson CA 95642 , Phone: 209.257.1851 ext 105 Fax: 209.257.0910 Email: strangeaqua@volcano.net or Susan Snoke at 257-1851 x107

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